The “Maleficent” star, who brought some of her kids as dates to the event, offered up herself to her young fans as an example of how feeling different and out of place doesn’t have to be a bad thing. “I want to say [that] when I was little, like Maleficent, I was told that I was different,” she said, “and I felt out of place, and too loud, too full of fire, never good at sitting still, never good at fitting in. And then one day I realized something, something I hope you all realize. Different is good.”

“Maleficent” is Jolie’s highest-grossing film to date, earning over $750 million worldwide. Its box-office success is a testament to the fact that audiences are more than ready for different types of female protagonists, even within the context of a Disney fairy tale.

Jolie, who has always been known as something of a rebel, encouraged the crowd to “cause a little trouble. It’s good for you.”

“By the Sea,” the third project Jolie has helmed, will be released later this year.